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Fear and attachment in 2.5‐year‐olds
Author(s) -
StevensonHinde Joan,
Shouldice Anne
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
british journal of developmental psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 2044-835X
pISSN - 0261-510X
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-835x.1990.tb00848.x
Subject(s) - ambivalence , psychology , attachment theory , distress , developmental psychology , temperament , emotional security , social psychology , personality , clinical psychology
Security of attachment ratings were significantly negatively related to indices of fear of strangers and separation distress/protest in 2.5‐year‐olds ( r = − .32 and − .31 respectively, N = 82). With the attachment classifications, significant between‐group differences occurred even among the secure groups. Secure‐reserved and secure‐ambivalent children were significantly more fearful of strangers than very secure children. Secure‐ambivalent children showed more intense separation behaviour than very secure and secure‐reserved children. Two groups, one secure (secure‐ambivalent) and another insecure (ambivalent), were above the mean of the whole sample on all indices of fear and separation distress/protest, suggesting a particular behavioural ‘style’ independent of security of attachment. Such a style could reflect an influence of family relationships as well as early appearing temperament. Correlations between maternal and observer assessments were not significant for security of attachment ( r = .11) but were significant for fear of strangers ( r = .40). For both relations, significant discrepancies appeared: Mothers of children with secure classifications of attachment (very secure, secure‐reserved, secure‐ambivalent, and secure‐controlling) rated them as both less secure and more fearful of strangers than indicated by corresponding laboratory assessments, while mothers of insecurely attached children (avoidant, ambivalent, and controlling) rated them as more secure and less fearful.